Rail America posts monthly, year-to-date carload gains

In June, RailAmerica recorded an 18.7 percent increase in consolidated carloads, showing gains in all commodity groups except auto, intermodal and "other."

Consolidated carloads increased to 120,780 compared with 101,785 in June 2003. On a "same-railroad" basis, June carloads increased 15.5 percent to 117,479 compared with 191,717 last June. For the year’s first six months, the short line holding company posted carloads of 717,561, a 13.2 percent increase compared with the same 2003 period. On a same-railroad basis, year-to-date carloads increased 8.7 percent to 688,681.

Total North American carloads were up 12.1 percent for the month, from 9,562 in June 2003 to 101,545 in June 2004. On a same-railroad basis — which includes 248 carloads hauled by RailAmerica’s Dallas Garland and Northeastern Railroad on an 11-mile line the railroad recently acquired from Union Pacific Railroad — last month’s carloads increased 8.6 percent to 98,244. Through the year’s first six months, RailAmerica recorded an 8.9 percent hike in carloads, to 604,528, and on a same-railroad basis, year-to-date carloads were up 3.8 percent to 575,648 compared with 554,647 during the same 2003 period.

RailAmerica recorded even higher increases in Australian carloads, due to a grain recovery following a drought. The company recorded 19,235 carloads in June, up 71.4 percent compared with 11,223 in June 2003. Total Australian carloads were up 43.1 to 113,033 for the year, compared with 79,009 in 2003’s first six months.